Newspaper and paper wrappers from an unmounted collection from the herbarium of Dr. Hugh Francis Clarke Cleghorn.
A box of unmounted specimens from Cleghorn's herbarium and annotated as from ‘Cumbaukum Droog’ [Kambakkam Durgam] was discovered in the basement longstore at RBGE in 2025. It was assessed by Henry Noltie; the specimens were mounted and added to the herbarium collection, and the newspapers and folders used by Cleghorn to wrap his collection were seen as significant enough to be added to the Archive. Henry described the process in a Botanics Story: (right click, open link in new tab) https://stories.rbge.org.uk/archives/40144
The Collection includes manuscript lists relating to the Cumbaukan flora and a journal article cutting, made by Cleghorn, from the 1835 volume of the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society: an article titled an ‘Account of the Ragery Hills, near Madras’ by a Colonel Monteith.
The specimens were contained in newspaper flimsies dating between 1853 and 1859, most of which were placed in covers made of Indian ‘country’ paper annotated with the numbers and names of 20 plant families. Although the specimens were collected in December 1853, the majority of the newspapers date from 1858/9, presumably when Cleghorn undertook some herbarium curation. They are trimmed to uniform size, c 27 x 44 cm – some more or less whole sheets folded, others cut in half (when the titles are often missing).
The newspapers are of considerable interest, assuming that they were subscribed to by Cleghorn, rather than bought as scrap paper. Two certainly were his as they are inscribed with his name, title, and address while on tour as Conservator of Forests in Salem and Ooty. These tell us something about his reading habits and suggest a great thirst for news both Indian and from Britain. Also used was also a pamphlet advertising a Madras ‘Periodical Horse Mart’ revealing a previously unknown, though unsurprising, interest in horse flesh; and proof that he subscribed to the Gardeners’ Chronicle, suspected but previously unproven. Of the Indian newspapers was one published in Bangalore (The Bangalore Herald) and seven in Madras (Madras Circulator, The Commercial Gazette, United Service Gazette, The Athenaeum, The Madras Times, The Madras Spectator and the official government Fort St George Gazette). Of those published in Britain the largest number of sheets are from The Overland Mail, with smaller numbers from four others (The Indian News, The Morning Herald, The Record and The Examiner). There is also a single half-sheet from an unidentified Fife newspaper to show that he kept up with news from Scotland.
The articles in the papers dating from 1858/9 are of particular interest, with many articles discussing the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny. Interesting though the ‘news’ items are, the papers are equally intriguing for the advertisements and aspects of social history revealed. described here are only a few items that were noticed while cataloguing the plants: a meeting of the Madras Photographic Society attended by Sir Walter Elliot (6 April 1858); the opening of the organ by William Hill in St George’s Cathedral (13 September 1858); stained glass fanlights for the cathedral designed by Archibald Cole, Professor Fine Arts in the Madras School of Industrial Art, made by Nathaniel Wood Lavers of London (later Lavers, Barraud & Westlake) (21 January 1859); an advertisement by J. Deschamps offering three pianos by Erard (1 mahogany grand of 7 octaves; 1 mahogany grand square of 6¾ octaves; 1 rosewood cottage of 6¾ octaves) and 1 mahogany grand square by Broadwood (May 1854); J.J. Fonceca & Co offering ‘Likenesses either in Oil, Water Colors, or Crayon … Landscape and Cattle Drawings … charges so regulated with a view to place their services within reach of all (21 January 1859); an auction by Oakes, Partridge and Co. offered a by then very old fashioned ‘square piano by T. Tomkison, in good order’ (6 July 1853).
Letter No 153 from Hugh Cleghorn to John Hutton Balfour; transcribed as follows:
17 Kensington Square
Kensington
7 April 1851
My dear Balfour
I go into the city every day to examine records in the India House, and when passing thro’ Fleet Street I can see Taylor in Red Lion Court about the printing debt of the Bot: Soc: if you give me particulars as to how the matters stands: I will make the best arrangement I can with him.
I saw [Edward] Forbes a few days ago on his way to the Royal Institution where he gives a series of Lectures, and when getting into an Omnibus at Charing Cross, I found myself alongside of Lankester, who counts for two in any conveyance, he is getting so large– He desired to be kindly remembered to you, & said that his translations of Schleiden might be of use to you in the preparation of your new Manual.
Pamplin has no parcels for you I observe Voigt’s Hortus Calcuttensis revised by Griffith in his shop price 35/- you told me I think that you had ordered it but not recd. it– It is a most valuable work for a Botanic Garden– Shall I bring it for you? as I have been purchasing largely for myself, I dare say he may give it somewhat cheaper.
There is also a broken copy of Rheed: Hort: Malab: at Pamplin’s. He is to have the odd vols. looked out before my next visit– I shall try & get Vol: 1 for the College– I should not wonder if their own missing vol. was in his shop, as I observe a great number of Graham’s books.
Royle has been ten weeks in his bedroom, & has suffered much in health, the joints of his fingers are swollen from Chronic Rheumatism & his nervous system has been injured by overworking his strength.
He is now I hope gaining ground every day – his wife and Brother in law Mr E. Solly are writing constantly at the Exhibition Catalogue.
After posting this I take a Kew Omnibus – and if I can get away from Acton shall try and see Sir Wm. Hooker.
I am under terms for a passage in the “Trafalgar” on 20 August but continue in considerable difficulty. – May the Great Counsellor counsel me in all my perplexities.
I have been living in a noisy Hotel with the Sappers & Miners, employed about this Great Exhibition – I am now with Mr Clarke, Secy of the Asiatic Society – & probably remain for 2 or 3 weeks, then returning to Edinbro’ by sea– It will give me pleasure if I can do anything for you.
With kind regards to all friends
Believe me
Ever sincerely yrs.
H. Cleghorn